Picture-frame.



No. 662,736. Patented Nov. 27, |900.

Y L. B. PRAHAR.

(no Model.)

// Arm/Mfrs tnvi'rn Prafrns amanti traba LOUIS B. PRAHAR, OF NEW YORK,N. Y.

PICTU RE-FRAli/iE.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,736, dated'November 2'?, 1900.

Application iiled March 5, 1900.

T0 all wh/ont it may concern;

Be it known that I, LOUIS B. PRAHAR, a citizen of the United States, anda residentot" the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the countyof Kings and State ot` New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Picture-Frames, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

My invention relates to picture-frames ot' that class known as cabinetframes, in which the picture, glass, and back are slid to place in thebody of the frame.

The purpose of the invention is to so construct a frame that thepicture, back, and glass Will be entirely surrou nded by the frame,effectually preventing said parts from accidentally dropping out afterhaving once been placed in position in the frame, and, further` more, toconstruct the frame in such manner that a member thereof may bepartially or entirely removed to provide an opening` through which thecontents of the frame may be introduced or removed.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims,

Reference is to be had to the accompanying` drawings, forming a part ofthis specilication, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved frame, the movable memberbeing shown in partially open position. Fig. 2' is a front elevation ofthe upper portion of the frame drawn on a larger scale, a corner of theframe being in section and the movable member of the frame beingillustrated as locked to the member with which it is adapted to engage;and Figz is a horizon tal section through theimproved frame, thebacking, picture, and the glass contained in the frame.

The frame consists of two side bars `10 and 10a, abottom bar 11, and atop bar12. The side bars and bott-om bar are shown as connected, and allthe bars are U-shaped in cr0ss-sec tion, being practically channel-bars,and pret'- erably the rear member a of each bar is wider than the frontmember a'. Usually the front members are given an inward inclination toa greater or less extent.

The upper end s of the side bars 10 and 10L Serial No. 7,297. (Nomodel.)

are inclined downward or mitered, and the ends of the top bar 12 of thetrame are likewise mitered to lit snugly to the upper end portions 13 ofthe side bars. The top'bar 12 is connected at one of its ends by a hinge14, for example, with the upper portion of the side bar 10, while alatch 15 is located at the opposite end of the top bar 12, being adaptedto enter the space between the members la and a of the side bar 10a. Thelatch 15 may be of any suitable construction. That shown in the drawingsconsists of a piece of spring metal bent` to a V shape, and the upperend of one member of the latch is secured to the under face of the topbar 12, while the other or free member has a reduced handle portion 16at its upper end adapted when the latch is closed o-r when one member isbrought in close relation to the other to enter a space 17 at the latchend of `the top member 12, and when the body of the latch 15 enters thespace between the members of the side bar 10in the handle portion 16 ot'the latch will enter a recess in a .keeper 16, formed at the upper endot the said side member 10, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

I desire it to be understood that the member 12 may be provided with alatch at each end, the hinge being omitted, so that said member 12 maybe entirely removed troni the side members of the frame or that eitherone ot the side members or the bottom member of the frame may beremovable instead of the top member.

The back 18, which may be of any desired material, the picture 19, andglass 2O are all introduced between the members of the fixed portion ofthe frame when the removable portion is carried outward, so as toprovide a suitable opening, or is entirely removed. After the pictureand its accompanying parts have been placed in position the removablemember is latched or locked to the iixed members of the frame, and theframe thereupon completely surrounds the picture and accompan ying partsand prevents the possibility of said parts being accidentally displaced.Furthermore, the frame is rendered more or less dust-proof, since butcomparatively little dust will reach the picture from the back or thefront of the frame.

The standard usually employed to hold. such IOO frames in uprightposition may be attached directly to the frame, or it may be secured tothe backing for the picture.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. A picture-frame, comprising connected side andbottom channel-bars, and a top channel-bar having a hinged connectionWith one of the side bars, and a latch carried by the upper channel-barand arranged for engagement with a keeper carried by the opposing sidebar, for the purpose described.

2. A picture-frame, comprising a top, bottom and side members havinggrooves for the reception of pictures and their accompaniments, one ofsaid members being detachable from the other members, and a V-shapedspring-latch having one of its members secured to the end of thedetachable member, the other or free member of the latch having areduced handle portion at its upper end adapted when the members of thelatch are brought together to enter a space or recess at the latch endof the member, the opposing member of the frame being provided With akeeper having a recess adapted to be engaged by the handle portion ofthe latch when the body of the latch enters the groove in the saidopposing member ofthe frame, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS B. PRAHAR.

Witnesses:

J. FRED. AcKER, EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL.

